it's solidly purple, and this is an interesting race for many reasons in virginia. the problem in virginia for the romney campaign is they're on the defensive on all the issues, on theeconomy, women's issues, national security, all of issues that are important they're on the defensive right they don't have an iue opening to pressba campaign on in virginia. they're behind on the economy, which was supposed to be president obama's weakness. so i think they're really in trouble in virginia we've seen a slip on the part of the romne campaign since the conventionsohart convention bounces, it turned into a convention slide in virginia. we have a series of polls out now that show the gap widening between obama and romney. i think the rney campaign needs to find anpening, a ga to shoot in virginia on that issue. they need to press that gap. >> it's interesting you say that the spokesperson for the rnc in saz said obviously in 2008 we got our clock cleaned here and got caught flat foolted. we're just casng a real wide atyokef that statement, professor? >> well, it may be a w